↑Children play on the Zhaozhou Bridge (taken on April 24). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Mu Yu
"Zhaozhou Bridge came to Lu Ban to repair, the jade railing sage stayed, Zhang Guo rode a donkey on the bridge, and the Chai Wangye cart rolled a ditch." The Hebei folk song "Little Herding Cow", which is widely spread in the northern part of the mainland, tells the beautiful legend of Zhaozhou Bridge.
Zhaozhou Bridge is located in Shijiazhuang City, Hebei Province, Zhao County, on the river, was built in the Sui Dynasty, has a history of more than 1,400 years, is the world's earliest existing single-hole arc open-shoulder stone arch bridge, in 1961 was selected as the first batch of national key cultural relics protection units.
With a total length of 64.4 meters, the Zhaozhou Bridge was used as a traffic artery from the date of its completion until 1984, when the Zhaozhou Bridge Park was built.
"Reasonable design is an important reason why Zhaozhou Bridge has stood for thousands of years." Li Kunhong, director of the Zhao County Museum, said, "As a bridge, the biggest danger comes from flooding. In 1963 and 1996, many rivers near the Zhaozhou Bridge were flooded, and the Zhaozhou Bridge was hit by the flood unharmed, and the design of the 'open shoulder arch' played an important role. There are four small arches at both ends of the main arch, which can not only save materials, reduce the weight of the bridge, but also reduce the impact of floods on the bridge itself. ”
Zhaozhou Bridge has 28 arch coupons, the designer Li Chun adopted the longitudinal parallel masonry method, first by an arch coupon, after the masonry, this arch coupon can stand independently, and then build the next one in turn. Since each arch is independent, once one of them is damaged, it has no direct impact on the other arches and the bridge body, and it is also convenient for individual repairs. The Zhaozhou Bridge has stood for thousands of years, which has a lot to do with this masonry method, reflecting the wisdom and innovative spirit of the ancient Chinese.
Zhaozhou Bridge not only has a high degree of scientific value and important historical value, but also has beautiful plastic art and exquisite stone carving art. The carvings on the bridge body are mainly concentrated on the railings and pillars in the middle part, and the carving process is exquisite, and the style is simple and elegant. "The dragon carving is the essence of the Zhaozhou Bridge, and there are a total of 58 dragons on the bridge, forming a magnificent group of dragon formations." Li Kunhong said. Zhaozhou Bridge is famous for its long history and unique design. In 1991, Zhaozhou Bridge was selected as an "International Civil Engineering Historical Monument" by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
In November 2023, the Zhaozhou Bridge Scenic Area will be open to the public free of charge. Nowadays, the water is murmuring under the bridge, and the people upstream of the bridge are weaving. Zhaozhou Bridge embodies a thousand-year history and witnesses the prosperity of today.
↑ The high-relief dragon pattern stone railing of the Zhaozhou Bridge in the Sui Dynasty on display at the Zhao County Museum (taken on April 25). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Yuguo
↑ Stone carvings on the Zhaozhou Bridge (file photo). Xinhua News Agency (photo by Zhu Tao)
↑ Aerial view of Zhaozhou Bridge (taken on April 25, drone photo). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Yuguo
↑Cultural relics protection technicians from Hebei Provincial Institute of Building Research Co., Ltd. survey the bottom of Zhaozhou Bridge (photo taken on April 25). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Yuguo
↑ Li Chun statue in the Zhaozhou Bridge Scenic Area (taken on April 24). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Mu Yu
↑This is the Zhaozhou Bridge taken on April 24 (drone photo). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Mu Yu
↑Tourists visit Zhaozhou Bridge (photo taken on April 25). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Yuguo
↑ Aerial view of Zhaozhou Bridge (taken on April 25, drone photo). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Yuguo
↑Night view of Zhaozhou Bridge Scenic Area (taken on April 24). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Yuguo
↑The shape of the bottom of the Zhaozhou Bridge (taken on April 25). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Yuguo
↑ Carved patterns on the stone railing of Zhaozhou Bridge (file photo). Xinhua News Agency (photo by Zhu Tao)
↑ Zhaozhou Bridge at sunset (taken on April 24, drone photo). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Mu Yu
↑Workers in the Zhaozhou Bridge Scenic Area salvage floating aquatic plants in the river (taken on April 25). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Yuguo
↑Tourists visit the Sui Dynasty "Two Dragons Playing Pearls" railing preserved in the Zhaozhou Bridge Scenic Area (taken on April 24). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Mu Yu
↑Night view of Zhaozhou Bridge (taken on April 24). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Mu Yu
↑A child shows the Zhaozhouqiao cultural and creative ice cream bought by his parents (taken on April 25). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Yuguo
↑Zhaozhou Bridge at night (taken on April 24, drone photo). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Mu Yu
↑ Cultural relics protection technicians from Hebei Provincial Institute of Building Research Co., Ltd. inspect the stone railing of Zhaozhou Bridge with an instrument (taken on April 25). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Yuguo
↑This is Zhaozhou Bridge and surrounding villages (taken on April 24, drone photo). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Mu Yu
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